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Community helps cancer patient fulfill bucket list

The local community has a rallied around the daughter of a Greenbrier Middle School teacher, working to raise money to help the 20-year-old complete her bucket list in the wake of a terminal brain cancer diagnosis.

The local community has a rallied around the daughter of a Greenbrier Middle School teacher, working to raise money to help the 20-year-old complete her bucket list in the wake of a terminal brain cancer diagnosis.

Morgan Hutcherson has been battling the brain cancer for a little more than a year. She was first diagnosed two days before her 19th birthday in April 2013.

Rick Hutcherson said his daughter was diagnosed following several weeks of headaches that wouldn't go away.

A neurosurgeon said there was a tumor in her brain the size of a tangerine.

"He started to point it out on the screen," Hutcherson said. "But he didn't have to point it out, you could see it. We knew immediately what it was."

After the surgery, the family received the news that the tumor was cancerous and there would be no cure.

"Sherry and I weren't going to hide anything from her," Hutcherson said. "So we told her after her surgery and I held her."

The Bucket List

Morgan Hutcherson has put together a list of goals to achieve before her disease worsens, according to Tavey Williams, who said she's been Morgan's best friend since they started as freshmen in high school.

"I try to be by her side as much as possible," Williams said. "I'm really trying to raise funds so that she can mark off things on her bucket list that she wants to do."

Morgan is scheduled to go sky diving with her family and ride in a hot air balloon, Williams said.

"There are several places Morgan wants to visit," Williams said. "She wants to see the Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls, take a trip to Disney World. She would like to see Yellowstone National Park and Galcier National Park and see the Redwood trees."

Another friend of Morgan's is selling rope bracelets at area events to help with the fundraising effort.

Community comes together

On Sunday, May 4, a motorcycle ride was held in White House, kicking off at Heritage High School on Highway 76 East in Robertson County. The ride, organized by David Graves, raised $7,200 for the family with 245 motorcyclists participating.

"I just want to thank everybody," Rick Hutcherson said at the event. "There are no words."

Several items were auctioned at the event, including a certificate for a hot air balloon ride, which the winning bidder gave to Morgan so she could mark it off her bucket list.

Graves led everyone at the event in a prayer for the Hutcherson family.

"Father we ask that her bucket list get wiped out and they make tons of memories," Graves said.

The community came together for a motorcycle ride to raise money to help 20-year-old cancer patient Morgan Hutcherson complete her bucket list. Hutcherson has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. (Photo: Eric Miller/ Robertson County Times)